The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an interesting article about parent accountability courts now being set up in a number of Georgia counties. The Atlanta paper describes these courts as follows:

Parental accountability courts are run by representatives from the state’s Child Support Services division. These coordinators work with the parents, serving as a mentor and directing them to existing community resources. Each court is tailored to its particular county’s need. The coordinators may be called upon to help the unemployed prepare resumes or prep for a job interview. They might refer people to drug rehabilitation programs or other support services. Once those problems are addressed and the person is established in a job, it is up to the individual to make sure the child support is paid or the court has the option to garnishee wages.

As I understand the concept, state child support enforcement offices and county jails argue that incarceration does not solve the problem of delinquent child support payments, especially when jobs are scarce anyway and an unemployed dad with a prison record is even more unlikely to find a job.

Child support obligations – both on-going and arrears – cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. However, even non-dischargeable debts like recent tax obligations, secured installments notes and (sometimes) student loans are regularly included in Chapter 13 repayment plans.

How are child support arrearage balances treated in Chapter 13? Can the child support payer force a child support recipient to accept a 5 year payout of an arrearage balance?

The answer is “it depends.” And often, the child support recipient (i.e. the custodial parent) gets to make the decision.

First, you should understand that Section 362(b)(2)(B) specifically excludes from the automatic stay any action to collect a “domestic support obligation.” I read this to mean that if the child support payer files Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the automatic stay protection associated with a Chapter 13 filing should not stop a state court judge from hearing or ruling on a contempt action for collection of child support, nor should it stop a wage or bank account garnishment against the child support payer.

I would point out, however, that some state court judges will not assume anything about bankruptcy and will insist on an order from the Bankruptcy Judge before they will proceed with a child support collection case. [Read more…]